Wildfire advice issued ahead of hot weekend in Sussex

The warning comes ahead of a level three heat-health alert being issued for the south east this weekend.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (ESFRS) is urging people to “be respectful of the countryside and take care when out and about”.

Some of the warnings include not lighting fires in the countryside, extinguishing cigarettes properly and using barbecues in suitable areas.

Temperatures are set to reach 26C this weekend

In March this year, ESFRS responded to a large fire which damaged six hectares of land at Pippingford Park in Nutley, near East Grinstead.

While in 2019, seven fire engines had to respond to a 400 metre wildfire in Ashdown Forest.

Wildfires have also damaged Filsham Reedbed nature reserve, near Hastings, in the past.

If a fire breaks out, the service is urging people to call 999 immediately, not attempt to put the fire out themselves, give a map reference or land mark, wait for the arrival of the fire engine or ranger in a safe location near a road or carpark and give an estimate of the size of the fire if possible.

Wildfire in Ashdown Forest. Picture by Eddie Howland

The full list of tips from ESFRS is as follows:

• Open fires shouldn't be lit in the countryside.
• Sunlight shining through glass can start large fires - take glass. bottles/jars home or put them in a waste or recycling bin.
• Keep young children and ball games away from barbecues and camp fires.
• Extinguish cigarettes and other smoking materials properly - this means making sure they are completely out.
• Only use barbecues or camp fires in suitable and safe areas and never leave them unattended.
• Ensure that your barbecue is fully extinguished and cold before disposing of the contents.
• Only picnic in designated areas.
• Obey safety signs.
•  Never throw cigarette ends out of car windows - they can ruin whole fields of crops, forest or areas of natural beauty.